UAE And Turkey, Bahrain and Israel: They've Come A Long Way
Good morning from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Wednesday, February 16, 2022!
The prime minister of Israel is returning home after an unprecedented trip to Bahrain, and Turkey's president ended a visit to the United Arab Emirates after a decade of animosities. Both visits are worthy of note, but the rapprochement between Bahrain and Israel has been building for years, where Turkey's outreach to the Emirates was sudden, given the past relationship of the two countries.
Only a few years ago, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey were arguing bitterly about what happened 100 years earlier. The question was the conduct of the Ottoman governor of Medina, Fahreddin Pasha, the "Lion of the Desert," in the years 1916 to 1919. The UAE's foreign minister accused Fahreddin Pasha of stealing. "The Turks stole most of the manuscripts in the Mahmudiyoah library," Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said, and added: "These are Erdogan's ancestors." Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded: "You pathetic ones that defame us."
This week Erdogan was welcomed to Abu Dhabi.
Bahrain in the past had voiced the same anti-Israel sentiment of other Arab states, but then sent signals about a growing relationship, often working with U.S. rabbis as intermediaries, all long before the Abraham Accords and the peace agreement between the two countries Now Israel is offering support for Bahrain against Iran, which for years claimed Bahrain to be its 14th province.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, and More.
Israeli Prime Minister Neftali Bennett's quick trip to Bahrain was intended to make sure Arab Gulf states know that Israel will aid them in opposition to Iran and its proxies: "We will fight Iran and its followers in the region night and day. We will aid our friends...whenever we are asked to do so," he said in one news interview.
Times of Israel, In Bahrain, Bennett pledges to aid country in fight against Iran.
Israel National News, Bahrain FM: Cooperation between countries needed to tackle Iranian threat
I24 News, Bennett in Bahrain: Crown prince envisions 'conflict-free' Mideast
Deutsche Welle, Israeli Prime Minister Bennett wraps up historic visit to Bahrain.
Iranian newspapers say the Israeli prime minister's visit to Bahrain can anger Iran. The Tehran Times reported that Bahrain had "doubled down" on interactions with Israel "that will most likely upset diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region."
Tehran Times, Bahrain's ties with Israel could anger Iran.
Bahrain's crown prince accepted an invitation to visit Israel. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa's travel should happen "in the near future," Bahrain's foreign minister said.
Reuters, Bahrain's crown prince to visit Israel in 'near future' - Bahrain foreign minister.
The U.S. Navy is considering adding Israel's unmanned robot boats to its joint Middle East operations. The Navy, which maintains its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, indicated its interest in the Israeli boats as Israel's prime minister visited Bahrain. If the robot boats are received, they would add to Israel's growing role in Gulf region security.
Reuters, US Navy eyes Israeli robot boats as Bennett visits Bahrain, official says
Israel is lobbying the U.S. in support of the United Arab Emirates to urge that Yemen's Houthis again be declared a terrorist organization. The UAE, following missile attacks by the Houthis on Abu Dhabi, asked the U.S. to reinstate the terror listing, which Donald Trump had ordered but President Joe Biden removed. Key members of the U.S. Congress are looking "very carefully" at a redesignation of the Houthis as terrorists, and Israel's lobbying will strengthen the effort.
Middle East Eye, Israel lobbying Biden on behalf of UAE to designate Houthis as terror group.
Turkey's president called on business leaders in the wealthy United Arab Emirates to invest in his country, saying a "new era" has begun. Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Abu Dhabi on a two-day visit intended to revive long-strained relationships with the UAE and to urge the Emirates' private sector to invest in Turkey, which is in the grips of an economic crisis. The trip was Erdogan's first in nearly a decade, a period marked by disputes between the countries. Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, welcomed Erdogan and indicated the trip will strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
AFP, Erdogan calls on UAE businesses to invest in Turkey.
Gulf Today, Mohammed meets Erdogan, says UAE-Turkey economic relations hold great prospects.
Israel sent a delegation to Vienna for the first time to make its voice heard in nuclear talks, and Iran is displeased. The Israeli delegation met with Russia's chief negotiator, Foreign Minister Mikhail Ulyanov, who tweeted politely about his discussions, and the Israelis also plan to meet with the United States and all other parties involved in the negotiations, except Iran. An Iranian newspaper close to Iran's national security apparatus wrote that the Israeli mission was an "obstacle to progress" and would result in "self-destruction."
Al Arabiya, Israel sends diplomats to Vienna for nuclear talks, Iran says 'obstacle to progress.'
The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says he "strongly believes" a nuclear agreement with Iran is in sight. After talks with Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian by telephone, the EU coordinator said "The moment has come to make an ultimate effort and reach a compromise."
The National, Iran nuclear deal in sight, says EU coordinator in Vienna.
Iran's parliament is working to pass internet restrictions that critics say will "hand over complete control of the internet to authorities." Iran's extremists dismiss the objections and call the objectors "supporters of immorality." The Iranian Majlis, or parliament, will send a "protection" bill imposing new restrictions to the Guardian Council by February 20. The council vets legislation and if it approves, the bill is finalized into law. The move for tighter controls on the internet comes more than two years after a total shutdown of the internet for a week.
Deutsche Welle, Iran tightens grip of internet freedom.
The United Arab Emirates' envoy at the United Nations criticizes the UN for "appeasement" of the Yemen Houthis and asked: "When will the appeasement of this terrorist group end?” UAE ambassador to the UN Lana Nusseibeh singled out the UN peace envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, saying he has yet to deliver any meaningful progress. The UAE representative cited the recent ballistic missile attacks on Abu Dhabi by Houthi forces and said the international community needs to take "serious, decisive, and tangible steps."
The National, UAE envoy to UN criticises 'appeasement' of Yemen's Houthis.
The United Nations said an "agreement in principle" has been reached to remove oil cargo from the rusting tanker FSO Safer, abandoned for years off Yemen's western port of Hodeida. The toxic oil would be transferred to another ship, relieving the danger of a major oil spill and environmental disaster in the Red Sea. The 45-year-old vessel has been moored off Yemen since 2015.
AFP, Agreement reached on transfer of oil from abandoned tanker off Yemen: UN.
A suspected Houthi missile hit a house in Hiran district of Hajjah province and killed two people. The missile caused damage in an area where most of the houses are made of hay and came as fighting increased in Hajjah.
Associated Press, Suspected Houthi missile kills 2 in Yemen.
A total of 60 people have applied to run for president of Iraq. A legal committee of Iraq's parliament will consider the applications, which then go to a Board of Integrity and on to the Supreme Judicial Council. Parliament failed to elect a new president at a session on February 7, and the deadline for applications was extended. President Barham Salih is a candidate for reelection, and his main opponent, Hoshyar Zebari, was barred from the race by Iraq's Supreme Court. Zebari's party, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, nominated Rebar Ahmed to replace Zebari's candidacy. The position of president of Iraq is reserved for the minority Kurdish population.
Bas News, Iraq: 60 people submit for presidential election.
Iraq's Supreme Court ordered the autonomous region of Kurdistan to deliver all its oil to the federal government in Baghdad, a ruling that is expected to reignite long-standing tensions. The court stipulated that the Kurdistan Regional Government deliver "the entire production of oil fields in Kurdistan" to the federal government, but Kurdish authorities are unlikely to comply. Baghdad's share of Kurdish oil has been in dispute for years, and in a deal, the Kurdish region delivers 250,000 barrels a day of its 400,000 barrels a day production to Baghdad, in return for a share of the federal budget.
AFP, Iraq top court orders Kurdistan to ship all oil to Baghdad.
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund held nearly $56 billion in U.S. stocks at the end of last year, up from $43.4 billion in September. The increased value came from electric car maker Lucid, a U.S. regulatory filing showed. The Saudi fund's holdings in Lucid were listed at $38.6 billion.
Reuters, Saudi PIF held nearly $56 bln of U.S.-listed stocks in December 2021.
A misleading claim about Saudi Arabia's flag, alleging removal of the Islamic oath, has sparked more than five million views of a Facebook post, and it's wrong. The Associated Press reported that a draft amendment on the Saudi flag would revise regulations only on use of the flag, not its contents, and AFP, the French news agency, conducted a detailed fact check and found the claims misleading: "AFP found no official reports of the kingdom planning to change its flag design."
AFP, Reports misleadingly claim Saudi Arabia plans to 'remove Islamic oath from national flag'.
A former Algerian minister has been sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison. Chakib Khelil, who served as minister of energy, was sentenced and fined about $14,000 by a court in Algiers. Khelil now has U.S. citizenship and is believed to be in the United States.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Former Algerian minister sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Tunisia says the World Bank will lend it $400 million for social reforms, as the Tunisian government starts talks with the International Monetary Fund on economic reforms. The North African country, suffering from a financial crisis, wants a rescue package from the IMF, but the fund is insisting on spending cuts by Tunis.
Reuters, Tunisia says World Bank to lend it $400 million for social reforms.
Tunisia's president removed the temporary head of Radio Tunisienne, the country's national radio. President Kais Saied had appointed Chokri Cheniti in September, then fired him Monday. No replacement was named.
Reuters, Tunisian President Saied relieves head of national radio from position.
The whereabouts of Lebanon's central bank governor were unknown as a judge issued a subpoena for him, and he’s under a travel ban. Lebanon's state security was reported raiding three locations to find Riad Salameh, and a source said: "We tried to locate him but could not find him." Salameh has denied accusations of corruption in connection with Lebanon's economic crisis.
The National, Lebanon's central bank head Riad Salameh 'on the run' after police raid.
The German broadcaster Deutsche Welle fired five Arab employees from its Arabic service, then fired two Palestinian-German journalists from their jobs. The five were fired earlier this month after being accused of anti-Semitism, but they said they had not been given a chance to defend their case. The two Palestinian-Germans were fired a week later, accused of posting anti-Semitic social media posts back in 2014.
Al Jazeera, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle fires two more Arab employees.
MORE: Egypt expects a 6% economic growth despite Covid-19, minister says, Arab News... Bomb blasts military bus in Syrian capital, killing 1, Associated Press... Banned in Bahrain, Al Wefaq holds event in Hezbollah-held Beirut suburb, The National... Israel will not object if exported gas reaches Lebanon, minister says, Reuters... Three Turkish journalists jailed over Libya coverage released hours later, Reuters... Russia's defence minister arrives in Syria ahead of naval drills, Middle East Eye... Egypt's unemployment rate dips to 7.4% in Q4 2021, Reuters... Bahrain's state oil company to refinance $1.6bln loan, Reuters.
News You Missed
The Syrian prison for Islamic State detainees that was the scene of recent heavy fighting is only one of 20, including Derek prison, called the "Black Prison," which holds the most dangerous prisoners.
A review of the prison system, including the Al Sina prison in Hasakah where the latest fighting occurred, and its "Cubs of the Caliphate," more than 700 minors.
AFP, A closer look at the ISIS attack on Syria's al-Sina prison.
Saudi Arabia barely figures in most accounts of the Iraq war, and that is "quite simply, wrong." Katherine Harvey, author of "A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: The Saudi Struggle for Iraq," explains that Riyadh rebuffed Iraqi efforts at a rapprochement, pushing the country closer to Iran.
Brookings, How Saudi Arabia pushed Iraq into the arms of Iran.